Method of constructing ornamental figures



1949. D. H. GREER 2,478,480

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING ORNAMENTAL FIGURES Filed June 15, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR DAN/7. @7551 BY. AT TORNETS Aug. 9, 1949. D, H. GREER 2,478,480

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING ORNAMENT-AL FIGURES Filed June 15, 1945 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mew AT Y RNEY.

Patented Aug. 9, 1949 UNITE'D'SVTATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING ORNAMENTAL FIGURES Daniel H. Greer, Pueblo, Colo.

Application June 15, 1945, Serial No. 599,609

'creatures of substantially grotesque appearance.

The present invention contemplates the manufacture of these figures from natural products such as desert pods, several of which can be out apart and joined together to form a figure grotesquely simulating some well known bird or animal. 7

An important object of the invention is to ofier a method whereby desert found pods and otherwise grown pods may be cut and reas sembled in an orderly manner to arrive at a figure structure comically amusing in appearance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a figure reconstructed from pods or other nat ural objects wherein only parts of these natural objects are used in the complete construction of the figure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a figure simulating a bird constructed from parts of such pods which are naturally provided with a body portion, a stem and claws.

Various other important objects and advantages of the invention shall become apparent to the reader of the following description.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the constructed figure.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the constructed figure.

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of the constructed figure.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a pod after it has been out from the vine and showing the claws fragmentary at one end and a length of the stem projecting at its opposite end.

Figure 5 is a perspective View of the natural pod after it has been preliminarily trimmed.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view showing fragmentarily the pod and the lines on which the pod is cut to form two legs and feet and one head section.

Figure '7 is a side elevational view of the structure represented by the diagrammatic view after it has been cut as directed by the showing in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a side elevational view of the head section after it has been removed from the cut assembly shown in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the leg and foot elements resulting from the cuts made in Figure 6. r

1 Claim. (Cl. 144309) Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen in Figure 1 that numeral 5 denotes a natural pod such' as is found in arid regions. This form of a po'dis normally open longitudinally at the portion 6 and it is desirable that the pod be closed at this point in constructing thefigure under the method proposed and this may be considered the first step after cutting the pod from its vine. In cutting the pod from the vine it is preferable that a length I of stem be left, this serves to form the neck of the resulting figure. The other end of the natural pod has a pair of slightly'curved and backwardly disposed claws 8, 8, each of which has a natural hook 9 at its free end.

'It will also be observed that along the open portion of the pod a form of fringe l0 normally grows and this plays a part in the resulting of a grotesque appearance of the completed figure.

After the pod has been prepared to the extent shown in Figure 5 and the open portion closed by cement or some other material or means, a second pod is prepared by cutting vertically therethrough on crossed lines 11-11 and b-b. The claw end portion of the body of the second pod is thus divided to form feet H, H and leg members I 2, l2 of the natural claws B. This leaves a tapered portion I3 which becomes the head of the resulting figure. Considering Figure 6 the claws l2, I2 may be steamed or otherwise treated and bent laterally to the position shown in Figure 6 so that they will form upright legs when the foot portions are resting on a surface.

The method further consists in severing the hooks 9 from the resulting legs l2 on a cut c, and each side of the first pod may now be drilled or punched with an opening l4 into which is inserted and suitably secured the upper end of the corresponding leg l2. Some of the fringe or tufts l0 remain on the feet 12 by predetermination and these are denoted by reference character 01 and olfer a definite illusionary effect in the final appearance of the figure.

Regardless of the natural disposition of the claws 8, 8 on the first prepared pod, it is preferable that they be made to overlie the body of the pod in the manner substantially shown in Figure 1.

The second pod, as illustrated in Figure 6 and more definitely shown in Figures '7 and 8 also has a length of its stem left and this is preferably gl'Olll'ld or otherwise tapered to form a bird beak l5. The beak may be steamed or otherwise softened and bent to the desired curvature.

Seeds from the pod are split and glued or otherwise secured to the head [3 to form eye simulations Hi.

The back of the head [3 is now bored or otherwise formed with an opening for receiving the preferably tapered stem and glue or other adhesive material maybe placed on. the stem 1 before application of the head 13,-the exposed portion of the stem 1 forming a neck M as shown in the completed figure. (See Figure 1.)

Inasmuch as the head I3 willbe'inverted from the position shown in Figure 6 in the actual employment of the same in conjunctionof thefirst pod, the fringe Or tufts l willbeunderlying the head I3 as denoted by reference character Ilia. This disposition of the tufts I0 along theback of the figure and depending from the head section l3 depicts a rather strange and grotesque appear- ,ance. v.jecting tufts d on; the feet-| I.

This is amplified by the rearw ardly pro- To effect different formsand stances, the, legs I2,may be bowed or one disposed in frontof the other and the head maybe cocked on the neck 1a or the neck bent laterally, downwardly or-upwardlyto givethe desired animatedefifectto the .birdor other species.

.edges of the longitudinal opening, forming holes inthesides of the,pods body, cutting a second pad on crossed lines crossing at the claw end of the pod body to define a pair of feet and two legs of said claws and a head section, cutting said claws of the second pod and inserting the cut ends into the openings of the body of the first pod and applying the head section to the neck forming the stem of the first pod, the body portion of said pods .having fringe-like formations on thetop side thereof, said head section being inverted when applied onthe stem of the first pod so that its fringe will be depending.

DANIEL .H. GREER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the :file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date.

1,678,226 Leigh. JulyZ i, 1928 2,013,114 Smith Sept. 3, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country 7 Date 240,647 Great Britain H Oct. 8, 1925 France Mar- 24, 1920 

